Travelers Aid International is a global network that serves as a human services support system worldwide by facilitating interactions between social service agencies, airports, train stations, and other transit hubs in order to help children and adults who become stranded while traveling or are in distress or at risk of harm as a result of

travel Travel is the movement of people between distant geographical Location (geography), locations. Travel can be done by Pedestrian, foot, bicycle, automobile, train, boat, bus, airplane, ship or other means, with or without Baggage, luggage, a ...

History

The Travelers Aid movement began in

St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis ( , sometimes referred to as St. Louis City, Saint Louis or STL) is an Independent city (United States), independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi River, Mississippi and the Miss ...

, under the leadership of Mayor

Bryan Mullanphy Bryan Mullanphy (1809 in Baltimore, Maryland – June 15, 1851, in St. Louis, Missouri) was the tenth mayor of St. Louis, serving from 1847 to 1848. Bryan Mullanphy was the son of John Mullanphy, an Irish immigrant who became a wealthy mercha ...

. Its purpose was to provide assistance to American pioneers and new immigrants who became stranded on their journeys. At the time of his death in 1851, Mullanphy left a bequest of a half million dollars in his will to help "aid travelers going west." By the 20th century, Travelers Aid Societies had sprung up in major cities across the country. The programs protected stranded travelers, especially women and children, from others who would use, abuse, or victimize them. The primary fear was that young women travelers, native born and immigrant alike, would be kidnapped and turned into "

white slaves White slavery (also white slave trade or white slave trafficking) refers to the enslavement of any of the world's European ethnic groups throughout human history, whether perpetrated by non-Europeans or by other Europeans. Slavery in ancient ...

" (defined as white women forced into prostitution). Therefore, Travelers Aid Societies, most notably the Travelers Aid Society of New York, provided social work to vulnerable travelers at train stations and piers in order to prevent their falling victim to the white slave trade and related vices. Although many of the Travelers Aid programs were started by religious communities, services were often provided regardless of beliefs. It is the oldest non-religious social welfare organization in the United States. The founder of the

Travelers Aid Society of New York The Travelers Aid Society of New York (TAS-NY) was founded by Grace Hoadley Dodge in New York City in 1907. Thirteen other prominent Christian and Jewish women, including the social worker Belle Moskowitz, made up the Society's first Board of Di ...

(TAS-NY),

Grace Hoadley Dodge Grace Hoadley Dodge (May 21, 1856 – December 27, 1914) was an American philanthropist who was the first woman appointed a member of the New York Board of Education. Early life Grace was born in Manhattan on May 21, 1856, the eldest of six chi ...

, had hoped to unite other Travelers Aid Societies to form a national association, but she died in 1914 before this could be accomplished. Due primarily to the efforts of TAS-NY General Secretary

Orin Clarkson Baker Orin Clarkson Baker (1864, Ohio - 1957, Miami, Florida) was General Secretary of the Travelers Aid Society of New York (TAS-NY) from 1911 to 1917. The TAS-NY was formed by Grace Hoadley Dodge in 1907 to protect native-born and immigrant women fro ...

, national unification was finally accomplished in 1917. This national association provided a "chain of service", with one agency helping another when intercity transportation of a client was required. Travelers Aid was one of the original "

United Service Organizations The United Service Organizations Inc. (USO) is an American nonprofit-charitable corporation that provides live entertainment, such as comedians, actors and musicians, social facilities, and other programs to members of the United States Armed F ...

" (

USO The United Service Organizations Inc. (USO) is an American nonprofit-charitable corporation that provides live entertainment, such as comedians, actors and musicians, social facilities, and other programs to members of the United States Armed F ...

) that provided assistance to traveling service men and women, operating 175 troop transit lounges. Today, Travelers Aid responds to the specific needs of the community. Although each member agency shares the original service of assisting stranded travelers, many Travelers Aid agencies provide shelter for the homeless, transitional housing, job training, counseling, local transportation assistance, and other programs. Similar organizations were founded in other countries; in Great Britain and many other countries it is spelled as "Travellers' Aid Society", and originally was closely associated with the

YWCA The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) is a nonprofit organization with a focus on empowerment, leadership, and rights of women, young women, and girls in more than 100 countries. The World office is currently based in Geneva, Swit ...

References

External links

Official WebsiteTours In London
International charities Travelers organizations

History

See also

References

Further reading

External links